Life-Hacks from Med Mommas

OK, I recently joined an online discussion forum for physician mothers and it's like being in a virtual sorority! I LOVE it. We chat about everything from complex medical cases at work to the best dry shampoos on the market. I really can't get enough.

There have been some fantastic threads formed and I'm looking to compile the best contributions so as to have an easy-access reference moving forward. I will start out with the "life-hacks" that have proven to be invaluable. -- And that should say a lot seeing as how most of these women are working way over 40hrs a week and have a family.

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Without further ado, I present the can't-live-without life-hacks for medical mommas:

Tech

1. Wemo. A gadget that allows you to control your electronics from anywhere. 
2. Shutterfly iPhone app 
3. Wunderlist "to do" app
4. Audible.com for listening to books while doing other tasks
5. Roku (consolidates TV viewing)
6. Xfinity
7. Amazon Prime (BIG winner)
8. Out of Milk app (for groceries)
9. Baby Monitor app
10. Personal Cap app for budgeting
11. Teamup.com calendar
12. Mint.com for personal finances
13. Google calendars
14. Apple TV

Cooking/Dieting

1. Hamilton Beach 6qt. slow cooker
2. Stash of nuts at the work desk to avoid binging
3. Jura coffee maker
4. Blendtek
5. Vitamix
6. Immersion blender
7. Le Creuset (another big winner)
8. Ina Garten cookbook 
9. Sancerre wine
10. Hello Fresh
11. Cuisinart food processor
12. Henckels professional knives
13. Tiger rice cooker
14. Caphalon grill pan
15. Hamilton mini-personal blender
16. Breville espresso maker
17. Parchment paper
18. Cooks Illustrated
19. The Science of Good Cooking
20. Farmfreshtoyou.com

Cleaning

1. Dyson cordless vacuum
2. Roomba (including industrial strength for pet hair)
3. Laundry sorter
4. Braava hardwood floor robot
5. Clorox bleach tablets for toilet bowl

Clothes

1. Stitch Fix

Beauty, Fitness, & Hygiene

1. Microplane foot file
2. 30min or less Beach Body workouts
3. Living Proof shampoo and conditioner
4. Bikram yoga
5. Argan oil 
6. Shiseido eyelash curler
7. Yogaglo.com quick workouts
8. Dry shampoo
9. Clarisonic face brush
10. L'Occitane almond shower oil
11. Armani face cream
12. Gel manicure
13. T25/P90X3/Piyo
14. Deva Curl products
15. Skinceuticals
16. ReTress
17. Bath and Body Works Stress Relief 
18. Lasik eye surgery
19. Laser hair removal
20. Neutrogena healthy lengths mascara
21. Eyelash extensions
22. Microfiber hair towel
23. Origins On the Spot Relief
24. Pure Barre Workouts
25. TNS essential serum

Kids

1. Baby Bjorn plastic bib to contain mess
2. Clip-on highchair
3. Pump adapters for milk to go directly into bottle
4. Lotus travel crib
5. Go-go-babyz for travel
6. Snap N Go Stroller
7. InchBug juice box holder
8. Puddle jumper floaties for the pool
9. Mommy hook attachment for stroller

Organization and Other

1. Label maker
2. Container Store Elfa system
3. 3 basket hamper, each piece removable
4. Retailmenot.com for coupons
5. Merchandise tags for organization & simple gift cards

Working Professionals & Anthro

So there's this stupid, funny little thing among working professional women when it comes to Anthropologie. If we ever shop there, it's something to be confessed in a low, hushed voice. The other day I saw a friend and colleague of mine rocking some burnt orange pants on the hospital floor and I just had to inquire. 

Friend: Yes, they're from Anthro. But I have it under control. I keep it in check.
Me: Are there rules you abide by?
Friend: Oh definitely. You cannot wear more than one article of clothing from them. You are allowed ONE. Otherwise, you go from young professional to peasant searching for her lover in the woods. *motions as though she is placing a laurel of leaves in her hair*

This had me ROLLIN'.

If you look at this season's campaign, you'll see that she's actually spot on. 

The gnome will help me find the lost Excel spreadsheets.

Your honor, my client is only guilty of rad fashion. 

Anesthesiologist by day; Elk herder by eventide. 

So, why would we ever step foot in Anthropologie?

Aside from their fine hardware section, one could say it's to create an out-of-the-office wardrobe. But if you ask us, especially the ones just starting out on the career path, we want to project an image that says "take me seriously" both in and out of the work place. This makes us gravitate to the staples: Ann Taylor, J. Crew, and Banana Republic instead. (One time in an Ann Taylor Loft Outlet store I bumped into three friends from residency in less than ten minutes, no joke.) And while these stores I've mentioned have beautiful, classic pieces that are perfect for a professional's closet, there's that part of us as women that wants to throw in something unexpected, something oh, je ne sais quoi.

That's what Anthro provides: A bridge between take-me-seriously and know-I'm-still-cool style. 

And as my friend noted, this should be done in moderation. 

Just for funsies, I think I'll make a habit of throwing out lists of what a working professional (office type) might purchase from Anthro for work and/or play (I'll let you make that call), so as to save her time and streamline her visit -- you know, so you can get in and out fast without being spotted...That happened to me one time and I exclaimed, "I'm just here for the knobs!" 

Without further ado, Monique's fashion picks for Anthropologie Winter 2014-5

Look at the detail around the heel. Delish.
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Don't dismiss metallic shoes. They are surprisingly versatile.
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Longer length tops are the look of the moment now.
You'll need slender necklaces like this to match.
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THESE.
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No one needs to know those are hooves.
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I'm always looking for black jewelry and this has a decent amount.
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Don't be afraid of animal print.
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That color with some fitted black or grey pants. YES.
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Lace in small doses.
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Don't ask me how you're going to launder this.
Simply thank me for introducing more sequins at the workplace.
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Stripes are a staple. Put a statement necklace on that.
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Asymmetry is an easy way to add pizzazz and introduce pattern-play.
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Look at the texture of this skirt. It says I'm an educated woman who gives a damn.
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Pink pants, who says you can't?
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I'm not always okay with florals, but add some black and we're good.
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What do you think? Are you still wearing basic button-ups and trousers and I just rocked your world? Are you a free spirit and reading this made you pity our perceived constraints on women's fashion? Did you spit out your latte when you read my captions? (I hope so.)

Sartorial minds would like to know! Leave a comment and we'll discuss. That is, unless you're too busy frolicking through the woods... with a spreadsheet.

Monique's 2015 Design Predictions

Each year I give my predictions for what's around the corner and I think it's loads of fun. As Charles Barkley put it, I may be wrong, but I don't think so! What's exciting about this year is that we're gearing up for the next decade and making a more noticeable departure from what was trendy in 2010.

HERE WE GO:

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Gray is done. SO done. I know you all love your Revere Pewter and it might be drying on your walls this very minute, but the future is now. Sadly, it won't be long until gray rooms - especially kitchens - get put on the shelf next to espresso brown sofas as we ask ourselves what we were thinking. - I know the answer. We thought it was safe. Black and white are classic, but on opposite ends of the spectrum. . . Put them together and you have the equivalent to the golden retriever of paint colors, right? I still have love for gray, of course, but like everything else it got over done and without warm complimentary accents it reads as cold, plain, and so 2011. 

Also, may chevron RIP. May I just say there is this tinge of sadness about its departure that lies waaayyy beneath a mountain of resentment for how this design was treated in the past 5 years? I remember first seeing chevron in this post from Cococozy back in 2010 and thinking it would be such a nice element in moderation, as it is done in Mexico. But then all the Live,Laugh,Love types took it and essentially vomited chevron all over the place. We need a break, guys.

So what's the big color for walls this year? Wrong question. 

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It's all about the trim and cabinets! Creamy or bright (i.e. modern) whites are going to be the anchors to a room. The wall color and background is meant to stand back and support that. You're going to see a lot of washed out neutrals in terms of paint color. Or in other words, "What color is that? I can't even tell."

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Hot right now is, of course, black and white. It's stark, minimal, and the hipsters will ride that as far as it goes. (Note above the Aztec-y elements, I fear this will meet the same fate as chevron.)

Live, laugh, love is replaced with something along the lines of Carpe That F'n Diem. (I won't even mention 'Keep Calm' because like Voldemort, I fear that its mention will beckon this once ubiquitous sign.)

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Plaid and gingham are the new stripes. It's true. Get your hands on some black and white plaid and all the design elements will collide. (You can't even handle this.)

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Pleather pants and normcore are holding strong, but in spring a sateen finish will be seen on jeans and I think the Carolina Herrera (masculine/feminine) look will emerge again. 

For baby names, -er and -o are replacing -an, -en and -a. Or in other words, Aidan & Emma will welcome little sibs Harper and Leo.

Is this freaking you out yet?
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On the subject of babies, The Duchess will have another boy (take your pick of Edward/Alexander/Henry/John), and given that copy-cat Chelsea Clinton already used the name I had picked out, I fear Charlotte Diana will never be. Waaaaah.

Yep, that's a cheesecake cookie.
(You're welcome.)

In food, donut will share the stage with a return to cookies (with a twist). Bacon is holding on to its special place in the world, but I sense that the egg has something in store for everyone (except vegans). 

Enjoy! (And we'll see if I'm right.) 

Workin' It

On-Call, In-House

File this under "For Documentation" purposes. I snapped a picture of myself at work in our physician office to give an idea of how I look when I'm down to business. For makeup I wear eyeliner, eyeshadow, blush, and concealer if needed. I always wear simple, understated earrings. Nothing dangly. And I try to find tops with a little bit of interest (see the gingham and dots?) that occurs in the tiny V-shaped area that shows through my lab coat. My pants tend to be plain, well-cut black trousers (these are my fave). I almost always wear flats, but I admit to getting a little bold in the shoe department. I'm known to rotate through orange suede, black and metallics, and leopard print flats. The old lady patients love 'em.

And that, is my version of young professional doctor style.

Fashion Rebel?

I've never worn "edgey" clothes before. In high school we had a rule that we must always look "neat, clean, and appropriate," and it just stuck with me. That is until I found this pair of ripped jeans for a killer price. I felt so naughty purchasing them that I asked the cashier if she thought everything would be OK.

So far, planets have not collided. Sirens do not follow me around. People have not assumed that I'm some punk kid who doesn't rewind her videotapes when she returns them to Blockbuster. . .

(As you can tell, I'm a little behind the times.)

The Little Turk that Could

Tiny splashes of turquoise, that's my fallback when the rest of my outfit is very subdued. I found this great set of earrings from Target and I've been getting compliments on them at work. If they have more colors, I might be willing to venture out into new hue territories.

Vintage Etienne Aigner

Why yes I think I will take that for $4.99, thank you very much, Goodwill! (Never pay full price, people. NEVER.)

p.s. If my mom were to read this, she'd say I paid too much and then remind me of her Ferragamo clutch for only $1 from the Salvation Army.

Red Skinnies

Are the new neutral.

Your House Your Wardrobe

You know that design dilemma in the nursery I was just talking about? Clearly it was weighing heavy on my mind because today I dressed myself in one of the color groupings I had pondered: purple, turquoise, and blue. Makes you wonder if home design trends are inspired by fashion and vice-versa. For example, paint colors seem to be getting "mintier," reflecting a huge trend in ladies' summer jeans. Likewise, Pantone announced emerald as its color of the year, and that seems to be Michael Kor's current go-to color.

Tomorrow I will be looking at wallpaper, does this mean I'll be tempted by hexagons and dots? Maybe arrows.

Cream top and Purple Skirt

I am now cataloging the outfits that work for me, especially on Sundays, in an effort to not tear apart my closet in the rush of getting ready for the day.

Silk and Cotton

This is a typical summer work outfit for me. Keep in mind that I'm wearing a lab coat over this, too. I try to go for a splash of color to poke through the coat, and keep it simple when it comes to pants. In the summer, my trousers are made out of cotton or tropical wool. I'm constantly on the move, so I always wear flats.

Summer Wedding Attire at 38 1/2 weeks Pregnant

So swollen, but making it work.

30min before we were supposed to head out the door to go to my cousin's wedding, I realized that my dress for the ceremony splayed open in the front and threatened to reveal all my lady parts. This is not the look I was going for, Catholic ceremony and all. So I shimmied this pencil skirt up as far as it would go, and kept it in place with a Bella Band. Then, in a frantic rush, I tried on numerous flowing blouses to see which one would cover my bump. Ann Taylor hooked a sista' up. Best part is, I was able to wear my new favorite shoes, albeit briefly as you can see my feet are so edematous I'm literally pouring out of them.

Playing off the pregnancy glow.

After the ceremony, I headed to my cousin's house to change into evening attire and get my hair flat-ironed. I have thick, coarse, naturally wavy hair, and like almost every woman I often wish I had what Mother Nature didn't give me. My husband got to witness the intense process of achieving this look and is now willing to consider 'letting' me try the Brazilian keratin perma-straight treatment. It's not that I need his permission per se, I just think it's important to get his approval since he'd miss my waviness. Plus, I hear these treatments are not cheap and that deserves some discussion.

Like my makeup? I did it myself! I have to say, I think most of my physician friends are makeup challenged. I was in that same boat until very recently (and even now I'll admit that I could take it up a notch). Toward the end of residency I realized that I'd need a 'face routine' for a professional appearance and I got to work on figuring out just how to do that. Don't make fun of me, but I seriously have to credit almost everything I know on this subject to Carmindy of TLC's What Not To Wear*. For the specifics (e.g. what shade to use) I've gone up to the counters at Clinque and Ulta and basically said "help me, I know nothing." The final frontier for me is eyelashes. For goodness sake, you'd think with all this hair I'd have some amazing lashes. Cursed irony, I do not!

Trapeze dress by Suzi Chin for Maggy Boutique

I was fretting about finding a dress for the evening reception. It's summer, it's hot, and I didn't want a maxi skirt that would smother me and interfere with dancing. I went to Nordstrom's Rack and found this beautiful teal number on SALE, less than $50! It might have looked nicer to have something a bit more form fitting, but I was specifically looking for a 'trapeze' style so that I could eat whatever I wanted. -Priorities, people! Thing is, I didn't know the term 'trapeze' at that time, but now that I do I feel like my search options for pregnancy-compatible dresses has expanded significantly. Check it out.

*This is her best, fundamental video, methinks. 

I'm Ridiculous

After having some body issues today, I decided that the one part of my body I can still rely on are my feet. Therefore, I purchased these today (65% discount at Nordstrom's Rack, worn and refinished).

Thankfully my hubby's response was just to laugh.

I know, I know, the gold heel might be a bit much. But I really do intend to wear this often, with jeans and everything. Plus, I'm allowed at least one kooky purchase in the third trimester, right?

VC's Fontaine Sandal

Also, my apologies for turning this into a shopping blog lately. I'm in this frenzy of buying stuff I think I need before the baby comes!